Uncertainty looms over the fate of former genocide convicts in Rwanda who, having completed their sentences, are returning to communities they once shattered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
These communities have undergone years of transformation—shaped by reconciliation efforts, social healing, and government-led initiatives to foster national unity. Reintegrating former perpetrators into this new social landscape remains a delicate process, driven by both the government and civil society organisations like Interpeace.
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Margret Mahoro, Senior Program Manager at Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organisation notes that reintegration is a two-sided challenge.
"Communities may struggle to accept those who once harmed them, while former convicts often grapple with adjusting to today’s social reality,” Mahoro said.
One critical concern is the absence of structured follow-up after release, even though inmates receive rehabilitation and civic education while in prison.
Preparing for reintegration
Speaking to The New Times, Mahoro emphasised how deeply Rwandan social cohesion was damaged by the genocidal ideologies of the past. In 2020, anticipating the release of many genocide convicts, Interpeace launched a tailored programme to address the question: Are they truly ready to rejoin society?
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"Through extensive research, we identified key challenges ex-convicts face,” Mahoro said. "We developed a social therapy programme to help them forgive themselves, come to terms with their crimes, and prepare for reintegration.”
The initiative is active in five districts—Nyagatare, Ngoma, Musanze, Nyamagabe, and Nyabihu—four of which host correctional facilities, enabling close engagement with inmates nearing release.
In collaboration with Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), Dignity in Detention (DiDe), and professional psychologists, Interpeace uses screening tools to select participants based on behavior and willingness to change.
From these, three are trained to lead peer support groups of 12 to 15 inmates, forming three groups per facility every three months.
"These groups foster emotional healing and mutual support,” Mahoro explained. "Participants also gain vocational skills—carpentry, tailoring, construction, hairdressing, and more—preparing them for life beyond prison and enabling them to ask for forgiveness from the community before their release.”
The aim is to prepare both sides, the offenders and the communities for a peaceful coexistence.
"Many convicts fear facing the families of their victims, and some are rejected by their own relatives. Our programme helps ease this transition,” she said.
Persistent challenges
To date, over 750 inmates have undergone resilience-oriented therapy. While post-screening assessments indicate positive change—some reporting relief from trauma-induced insomnia and other mental health issues—Mahoro remains cautious.
"Our programme ends at the prison gates,” she said. "There is no system to track mental health or ideology in the community after release. Some may still harbor genocide-related beliefs despite prison rehabilitation.”
Behavioral improvements may mask deeper psychological wounds.
"They might appear reformed but still suffer from guilt, hallucinations, or self-rejection—especially if they are rejected by survivors or even their own families,” she added.
Mahoro advocates for a more holistic and continuous reintegration model.
"Without sustained support, post-prison trauma and isolation can trigger relapse into harmful behaviors.”
Healing beyond prison walls
To fill this gap, Interpeace collaborates with community health centers to extend reintegration support post-release. One initiative, Mvura Nkuvure ("Heal Me, I Heal You”), promotes community healing and unity between ex-convicts and genocide survivors.
"We use several approaches—social therapy, multi-family sessions, and resilience training. For instance, in Nyamagabe Correctional Facility, we helped women inmates nearing release seek forgiveness from genocide survivors. The initiative had a positive impact, and a broader public event is planned post-release,” Mahoro said.
Despite national efforts to promote unity and reconciliation, Mahoro acknowledges that forgiveness remains elusive for many.
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"Negative perceptions persist—especially toward genocide perpetrators. Many inmates still battle guilt and denial. But through therapy, they begin to heal and support one another. This internal transformation is crucial for true reconciliation,” she noted.
She further adds that healing must begin before release.
"If these therapeutic processes are fully implemented in prison, they lay the foundation for lasting peace and genuine reintegration into society.”